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Fatwa CenterAblution and wiping over socks for someone who has urinary incontinence
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. This is my first time asking a question, so please forgive me if I have made mistakes. I have been suffering from urine drops coming out during and after ablution. This was most likely caused by gall bladder stones that I had, which have now been removed, praise be to Allaah. Ever since I got this problem, I have been suffering from Waswasah (obsessive whispers) which has affected me regarding going to the masjid as well as psychologically to the extent that I have made ablution a countless number of times for one prayer. Whether actual drops come out or not, I find it very difficult to feel content. After having spoken to many scholars and learned people, the advice which was given is to perform one ablution for each prayer, which I try my best to keep up. My issue now, is that if I have performed ablution for the ‘Asr late and the Maghrib has started, do I then perform a separate ablution for the Maghrib, or do I keep the same ablution given that I will perform them both together. I have read that a separate ablution is not needed if you do not feel any drops coming out. However, in my situation, I always feel drops coming out, although I sometimes look and fail to find both drops and wetness. I have also learned that wiping over cotton socks is permitted. When an ablution has been performed, then one can put socks on and then wipe over them for the duration of a day. In my situation, however, I always feel drops coming out, even while performing ablution, so is it allowed then for me to do so? Your reply will be most helpful, and may Allaah bless you and all the people involved in your website. Ameen. This question is on behalf of my brother.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
If your feeling of having urine drops coming out is nothing but Waswasah (obsessive whispering), then you should ignore it, and perform ablution for the prayer normally and then pray without paying any attention to these whispers.
However, if you are certain that these urine drops do actually come out, then if they are constant in a way that they do not stop during the time of the prayer for a period of time that is enough to perform ablution and pray, then, in this case, you are suffering from urine incontinence, so you should perform ablution after the time of the prayer has started and then pray the obligatory prayer and whatever voluntary (Nafl) prayers you wish to perform, and your ablution is not invalidated until the time of the prayer ends (i.e. until the time of the next prayer starts).
If you wake up after the Maghrib, for example, then perform ablution and pray the ‘Asr to make up for it (Qadhaa') and then pray the Maghrib prayer with the same ablution, and your ablution is not invalidated until the time of the Maghrib ends.
You can wear socks after this ablution and wipe over them for one day and night.
All this, of course, is if you are suffering from incontinence in a way that you do not find enough time (without urine drops) to perform ablution and pray, but if the incontinence is interrupted for a known interval of time, then you have to wait until this time comes and then pray in it. For more benefit, please refer to fatwas 85661 and 332833.
We repeat our advice to you to ignore Waswasah and not pay any attention to it at all.
Allah knows best.
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